Anne-Maree Schwarz WorldFish-Solomon Islands Case study on the approach in Solomon Islands for CBEAFM: management, monitoring and collaborations Anne-Maree Schwarz WorldFish-Solomon Islands

What this talk will cover Solomon Islands context for CBEAFM / CBRM Five years of CBEAFM adaptive learning in Solomon Islands Monitoring approaches in Solomon Islands Collaborations now and 2011+

Solomon Islands context for CBEAFM 80% of population rural the majority with customary tenure and more than half of the villages described as coastal MFMR: Authority for fisheries management (inshore and offshore) [Fisheries Act 1998] MECDM: Authority for conservation (marine and terrestrial) [Protected Areas Act 2010 and others] Historically a lack national direction for inshore fisheries management combined with remote coastal areas has meant limited benefits flowing to the people. 1990’s : CBRM originally driven by conservation objectives, MPA’s Currently - a more people-centered and food security focus. Participatory approaches are helping put resource owners and users at the center of decision making. Centralised management ineffective

127 MMA’s in Solomon Islands. Largely facilitated and implemented by NGO’s or universities. Most are not specifically fisheries oriented, those that are, often implemented in partnership with MFMR. Solomon Islands Locally Managed Marine Area network (SILMMA) acts as a point of commonality and sharing of lessons learned. Govan, H. et al. 2009. Status and potential of locally-managed marine areas in South Pacific: meeting nature conservation and sustainable livelihood targets through wide-spread implementation of LMMAs. SPREP/WWF/WorldFish-Reefbase/CRISP. 95pp + 5 annexes

CEAFM Adaptive learning summary 2005 -2010 Adaptive learning process through a resilient small scale fisheries research project funded by ACIAR. Three provinces and a total of 36 villages (WorldFish led with MFMR); a further 1 province and 5 villages (FSPI) Method development phase; lessons learned Focus in on fisheries

Define the fishery, evaluation of opportunities, strengths and threats DIAGNOSIS PHASE Define the fishery, evaluation of opportunities, strengths and threats Exchange of information between project teams and the communities to understand community dynamics and leadership structures. Sourcing of traditional ecological knowledge and baseline information on species, habitats and fisheries trends to help determine management actions. Awareness and training here and throughout.

MANAGEMENT CONSTITUENCY Defines who needs to be involved in management (people). Helps facilitators and community decision makers identify suitable entry points for management (interactions). May include formation of committees (structures). ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PHASE Decision making process including desired outcomes and the necessary actions to achieve them. Develop management plan. Actions are evaluated by the communities themselves through an adaptive management process using biological or social indicators.

NGO Community NGO-staff WWF ReefCheck GCRMN TNC Simple ReefCheck TDA ReefCheck, Timed Swim, Seagrass Watch same WorldFish CPUE for fish and invertebrates, snorkel surveys for benthic invertebrates, social indicators Assist communities with snorkel surveys Social indicators UQ Localised ReefCheck Photo surveys, UVC RCF FSPI LMMA

Some points to come out of the SILMMA monitoring workshop and associated discussions General agreement that: Many of the methods that have previously been employed by NGO’s are not necessarily suitable for sustainable for independent monitoring by communities. The purpose of monitoring not always clearly stated or understood. Recognition that there a range of monitoring approaches may be useful: from general observations and simple indicators to more complex approaches such as UVC The chosen method will depend on the management or conservation goals of the particular community/group. To expand CBRM there is a need for communities to be able to make independent management decisions supported at a low level by NGO or government partners. For CBRM to be available to many at least some degree of monitoring must be able to be carried out sustainably by communities themselves.

1. In a participatory process communities choose indicators based on the goals of their management plans and the species/ habitats they are most concerned about or interested in monitoring. Examples of indicators are size of rabbitfish or how many people break rules around tambus etc. Average length of x rabbitfish from x fishers each month Number of people breaking rules Indicator 2 Indicator 3   Value above which the community feels that things are in good shape gets defined by the community; e.g. staka 2. Once indicators have been chosen communities define thresholds above which they feel that management is more than meeting their needs (green). 7” (17.5 cm) Range within which the community feels that it could go either way. Hem alright but hemi no good tumas and mas careful Only just meeting needs / or sometimes not (orange) 3” (7.5 cm) or is in crisis (red). Value below which the community feels that things are in very poor shape; e.g mifala sori nao 3. Monitoring results therefore help them determine further actions in their management plan

Community based resource management (CBRM) ” ...Solomon Islands has many strengths on which to build effective management of inshore fisheries and marine resources. The most important of these are its people and social capital”. … “The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) believes that coastal communities are the best managers of their fisheries and marine resources and seeks to work as partners in securing the potential of these resources”. Agreement on the need for MFMR to achieve its sector goals through coordinated and supportive partnerships with coastal communities and other key stakeholders.

Collaborations CBEAFM and Protected Areas (SIG international obligations) Marine sector has methods that are being successfully implemented by communities; can help meet convention goals. Planned roll out of CBRM in 2011+ requires model design in partnership with MFMR and SILMMA partners. Expected to include some or all of: Formalising community-province-national processes linked to Fisheries Act and ordinances. Training modules and JD’s for provincial fisheries officers Training for implementing partners Improve communities access to SILMMA Regular information forums and updates Database managed by MFMR with trained staff …… Some convergent evolution toward CBEAFM type approaches? Emphasis on PA driven by obligations to international conventions.

Collaborations Collaborations between who? National and provincial government-communities-NGO’s - on the ground implementation Research organisations, universities, regional organisations, -document, monitor and evaluate process Collaborations with non-traditional partners e.g. WorldVision / Save the Children -outreach to new areas Regional organisations -training to complement locally agreed approaches How to make collaborations effective: Be guided by government strategies. Work through the government but recognise that most implementation is occurring by partners. Utilise options like SILMMA to bring together partners to share lessons between fisheries managers and conservation practitioners Consider other options like structures within MFMR better suited (than SILMMA) to managing collaborations between local, regional and international stakeholders.

SUMMARY On the cusp of being able to spread CBEAFM, have had successes and natural spread is occurring. MFMR has policy and there is a high degree of commonality on approaches. CTI is highlighting EAFM and climate change and these are opportunities for all partners to incorporate these. Challenges: to implement a sustainable spread structure using known effective methods. to tie to legislation and ensure government has ownership of the process. to use existing capacity in country and build up in key areas (province).

Thank you